Automatic starter for internal-combustion engines.



k w. W. HODGSON. AUTOMATIC STARTER P03 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24=, 1914:. V

- Patented July 28, 1914-,

." -f f I 11y VENTOR.

WITNESSES: v v I BY w w ATTORNEY W. w. HODGS ON. AUTOMATIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.2 4, 1914.

' Patented July 28, 1914 2SHBETS-SHEET 2.

lNVEN-TOR.

ATTORNEY- o'nizrnn era PATENT orrrcn AUTOMATIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENG INES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, PatentedJuly 28,1914.

Application filed April 24, 1914'. Serial in). 834,104.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, lVEsLnv W. HoncsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Rural Route No. 2, Ailsa Craig, county of Middlesex, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Starters for Internal-Combustiofi Engines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic starters for internal combustion engines and the principal objects of my invention are, firstly, to proyide a spring-op; erated starter for internal combustion er gines which will do Y'Way' with crankin and automatically op ate the engine at a uniform speed until it generates its own power, at the same/time performing the function of a fly wheel for the engine; secondly, to so const 'uct my starter that the motor thereof lll lztj f be supplied with energy from the enginew h en the engine is in operation, thus avoiding the necessity ofhaving to apply any outside power tostore energy in said stnrterp'tl'iirdly, to provide a particular form of] winding brake so that the starter may be wound up without danger of holding part of the same from rotation after the winding of the spring thereof and so prevent any possibility of the engine being stopped by the brake; fourthly, to pro vide a particular construction of ratchet plate designed to be carried by the frame of the engine, in order that the said plate may be readily removed without the necessity of removing the starterfrom the engine shaft, in order to effect repairs or make adjustments, and the construction of my invention will be hereinafter set forth and what I claim as new will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Figure 1 is aside elevation of my starter, looking at the inner side thereof, the engine shaft being shown in section and certain parts being broken away to illustrate internal construction. .Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my engine starter looking at the outer side tliereof. Fig. 3 is a, vertical cross section on the line 3-3 Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line 4-4 Fig. 1, andFig. 5 is a perspective view of a sleeve hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, like characters of reference indicate cprresponding parts in each V each positioned against the lnner side (Sf-a,

figure.

Several advantages accrue from the use of my engine starter. One of these advantages is that there will be nonecessity of'utilizing electrical energy developed by batteries, as is now commonly done, in order to get ignition. sparks from the magneto, since my starter generates suiiicient speed in the engine in.

order to cause the magneto to operate. .The facts. set forth will ermit of, much saving in the cost of operating an internal combus' tion enginef 1 1 A is theiengine shaft, and the samd'is mounted in su table bearings B carried by the engine frameC.

D isv a disk wheel provided with a hub E mounted on theshaft A and secured thereto by any suitablefmeans such as the key F.

Carried by the diSkWllCBl D and mainly pro jecting beyopd thejinner side thereof, are a] plurality of centrifugal governors preferably constructed as follows:

G'are rods radially positioned in respect to the engine shaft. A, and these rods are. mounted in suitable bearings H carried by the disk wheel D.I The said rods are held in said bearings by fiP P ates I of any suitable A construot ion' secured in position by the screws J. The upperends of the rods G are threaded, and screwinto the threaded htiles K formed in the governor weights L. Each rod G is provided with a nut M screwing thereon which locks the said rods in adjusted i posit-ion,

N are adjusting lugs fixed t0 the rods G i and whereby the same are adjusted.

As illustrated particularly in F igf 3, the" governor Weights L overhan the disk wheel.

D. The periphery of the said diskjwheel D is removed where the governor weights L are positioned so as to form openings 0... This construction permits said governor weights to be positioned Within the periph I cry of the said dis'k Wheel D, in order-to ,ed on studs P projecting beyond the inner side of thedisk wheel D are a plurality of: brakes Q. The said brakes are positioned at the mouths of the openings 0 and over provide compactness in constructions- Pivoti hang the periphery of the disk wheel D for; i

the greater portion of their length. Split?- pins p held b the studs P retain the brakes ecure to the inner sideof each Q in place. 4 r

the outer ejid thereof," is

brake Q,- and as a leaf spring 2. The said leaf springsjare pin or boltgl3 projecting beyond the inner integrally provided with a shank 6 which extends through a longitudinal slot 7 formed pivoted to the, governor wei key 18 orequivalent means to overhangs portion of the disk 3, isa lever 29.1 This lever in each of the lugs 8 which preferably form part of the disk wheel D.

9 is a link pivoted by the pin or rivet 10 to each shank 6. Each link 9 is in turn ivoted by the pin or rivet 11 to thedisk w eel. D. .Suitable play is allowed the rods their bearings H so that the governor weights L may be free to move radially outwardly and inwardly without interference from the links 9. .The object of the'links ghts L is to rel eve the rods G substantially eral strain which at times is broughtginto play through the inertia of the governor weights L.

12 is a .disk wheel provided with a hub 13 loosely mounted. on the engine shaft A. The disk wheel 12 isflprovided with a friction rim 14 which overhangs thedisk wheel D. and the governing means already described.

15 is'a disk wheel provided with'a hub 16 which is loosely mounted on the 'A. The inner ends of the hubs-l3 and 16 touch, and as they are of the same diameter, I am' enabled which extends between the disk wheels 12 and 15. The sleeve 17 is fastened by the the hub 13. The disk wheel 15.is provided with a flange orrim 19 which projects beyond; the inner side of said disk wheel and preferably construction already described provides. a closed chamber 20 between the disk wheels 12 and 15, and positioned within this chamber isfaIfcoiled-spring 21 of the required strength, which s u -rrounds the sleeve 17. The t r endof this spring is fastened by any suitable means to outer end of this spring is fastened by any suitable means to the flange or rim'19. 1

22 is a toothed disk wheel mounted on the engine shaft A adjacent the" outer side of the disk wheel ligand; keyed-to the said shaft by the key 23, or equivalent means.

Feathered on the hub E ried by the engine frame C is a circular ratchet. plate 26 provided with a central opening '27 surrounding the shaft A. Passing through a hole 28 shown dotted in Fig. is pivoted by the can be regulated. 'The said Each governor weight is Gin into the, engine of all at engine shaft to mount thereover a sleeve 17 :of the ratchet wheel 12. The

the sleeve 17, and the p j by means of the feather key 24 is a sleeve 25. Suitably carpifriilbr'bolt 30 between the lugs 31 carried by the inner side of the ratchet plate 26 and shown particularly by dotted lines in Fi 1. The-innerend of the lever 29 is bifurcate as shown at 32 and the extremities 33 of the said bifurcated groove 34 formed between the flanges 35 carried by the sleeve 25. The construction offllever. 29- and-sleeve already described is of course well known, and it will be understood that any type of--lever adaptable for use m connection with my starter may be used by me.

. As before set forth, I, the ratchet. plate 27 is preferably carried by the engine frame.

construct the said ratchet plate of two parts 26 and 26%,, These said parts are secured tothe e 'n'e frame 0 by any suitable means such as fie threaded bolts 36 tapped frame, The said circular sestationary and is merely,

p a 926i 0 01 used as means-to, co-act with the dogs 3'? which are pivoted by 4 the pins 38 to. the ri'ction rimi 14) to prevent the backward movement of the disk wheel 12. These dogs of course engage with the teetha of the ratchet plate 26 at certain times for the purpose stated. When the starter attains full speed, the said dogs 27 are thrown by centri gal force outward against-the stop pins 39 carried by the friction rim 14, and are retained in this position by the speed out of contact with the teeth a, thus preventing any noise'from these parts when the engine is at work.

In orderto efi'ect repairs, or to make adjustments to the governing described, all

that is necessary is to remove the threaded bolts 36-securing the part 26 plate 26 tothe engine frame, and remove this part. Sinoe'the part .26 of the plate 26 is stationary, an opening is formed in the said plate 26 of the required width which will permit pulled over the shaft thus exposing the gov.- erning means. This construction obviates any necessity of hav'n to remove the starter from the engine shaft A for. the

fit more or less snugly at their opposing edges 6, and when thepart 26 is replaced the toothed perimeter of the plate 26 will be complete. One or more openings 0 may be made in the ratchet plate 26 to permit of,

access to the governing means and so obviate the necessity of always having to remove the part.26 The sleeve 25 is provided with -a plurality of extensions -13 which are beveled at their outer sides. The extensions 43 correspond in number to the rods G, and the function performed by these extensions isto come in contact with the inner ends z'of the rods G when the sleeve 25 is moved indicated by arrow. The contact of the exend rest in the annularmeans alreadythe part 26 to be urpose mentioned. The parts 26" and 26 0 course along the hub E in the direction tensions 43 with the rods G will force these D than illustrated.

. flange or rim 19, exerts energy and rotates 41 to the outer These dogs are in engagement with the teeth it must be understood that the lever 29 has consequentlythe starter perf brms the funcmounted on the shaft A, is clutched to the fment of the extensions43. These holes n .prevent the disk wheel 12 being rotated in the direction opposite to thedirection of out-of the path rods G so as to rodsoutwardly and through the medium of the governing weights L, force the shoes 9' of the brakes Q into contact with the inner surfaces of the friction rim 14. The annular surface 1 of the sleeve 25'will be supporting the inner ends 71 of the rods G when the shoes 3'- are in contact with the friction rim 14. When the parts are in the position just de scribed, the disk wheel 12, which is loosely shaft. The disk wheel D is provided with a plurality of holes a in the path of moveof course may be omitted when the rods G are placed farther away from the disk wheel Having described the principal parts of my invention, I shall now describe its operation. For the purpose of this description, it is assumed that the spring 21 is wound up tight. The function of the dogs 37 is to movement of the engine shaft A. The coiled spring 21, after the brake hereinafter described is thrown out of contact with the the .disk wheel 15 in the direction indicated. by arrow in Fig. 2.

40,are a plurality of dogs pivoted by pins side of the disk wheel 15.

,42 of the disk wheel 22,and it is through their medium that energy is transmitted from the disk wheel 15 through the disk" wheel 22'to the engine shaft A;

Previous to the operation just described,

been operated to move the sleeve 25 toward the engine'frame to move the extensions 43 of movement of the rods G, to allow the springs 2 to move the brakes Q away from contact with the friction wheel 14"and to return the governing weights-L back to normal position. This leaves the governing weights L free to move outwardly under-centrifugal force so as to insure the engine shaft being revolved at a uniform speed. So soon as the'engine develops its own power, the governor weights L; are moved farther outwardly causing the brakes Q to be jammed against the friction rimf14, resulting in the clutchin of'the disk wheel 12 to the engine shaft. WVith the exception of the ratchet plate 26 and lever 29, the parts described rotate with the en ine shaft,-and

tion of a balance wheel. When the whole starter is revolving with the engine shaft, the lever 29 is operated to position the extensions 43 underneath the inner ends'i of the ositively hold the brakes Q, in contact with the friction roller 14 in order .tionary.

that the disk. wheel 12' will be positively 'clutched'to the shaft A and be bound to rotate with the other parts. The dogs 40 are constructed with weighted tails d so that under the influence of centrifugal force, the

said dogs will always be held in engagement with the teeth 42.

As before set forth, I utilize the energy developed by the engine to wind the motor or coiled spring 21. Pivoted by the pin 44 to a suitable support 45, is a lever 46 to the outer end of which is pivoted a brake shoe 47 by a pin 48 49 is a lever pivoted on the pin 44, and this lever operates between the stops 50 and 51 carried by any suitable support.

52 is an extension carried by the lever 49 which overlaps the lever 46 near its upper portion. When the starter is exerting energy to start the engine, the spring 53, coupling the lever '49 with the stop 51, keeps the lever 49 in contact with the stop 51, with the result that through the extension 52 the lever 46 is moved to keep the brake shoe 47 out ofcontact with the flange or rim 19.

In order to wind the spring 21, it is necessary that the disk wheel 15 be held'stastationary, the lever 49 is moved into contactwith the stop 50, and through the medium of the spring 54, (suitablypositioned between this lever and the upper end ofthe lever 46, and held in placeby any suitable Inorder to hold this disk wheelconstruction well known in machine practice,) pressure is exerted against the lever 46 which causes the brake shoe 47 to be moved and held in contact with the flange or rim 19. This brake shoe will prevent the rotation of the disk wheel 15 with the result that the spring will be wound up.' The dogs 40 will of course co-act with the teeth 42 of the disk wheel 22 to prevent the unwinding of the spring. When the spring is wound up, the lever 49 is released when it immediately returns to normal position through the medium of thespring 53 and releases the brake shoe 47.

The spring 54, or equivalent means, is very important. The strength of this spring is just sufficient to permit the shoe 47 to have sufficient friction against the flange or rim 19 to hold the disk wheel 15 at rest only until the spring 21 has been wound up. Should the operator hold the lever 49 against the stop 50 too long, notwithstanding the fact that the shoe- 47 may be in contact with the-flange or rim 19, it can not prevent the rotation of this rim with the engine shaft after the said spring has been wound up. The'object of this is to prevent the levers 49 and 46 being a means whereby the engine is brought to rest through oversighton the part of a careless operator.

' From the foregoing specification it is clear that my starter will enable the engine to devmounted on thashaft 1 wheel to said engine cranking. Of course the starter can be adapted to be used in connection with any type of internal combustion engine, whether for stationary or mobile use.

Since my starter performs the function of a fly wheel, it does not take up any extra space.

Any suitable type of levers already described may be employed, and the same may be positioned as the requirements of installation may demand.

While I have described what I- consider to be the best embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that the principle can be embodied in different 'orms and I desire ,not' to be limited beyond'therequire ments of the claims.

When the spring 21 is rotate the engine shaft A, it naturally followsthat the disk. wheel- 12, being loosely A, is stationary,,and it is held at rest by reason of the dogs 37 thereof engaging withthe teeth a.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. The combination with of an automatic starter therefor comprising a first disk wheel keyed to said second disk wheel loosely mounted shaft and provided with a friction rim; a third disk wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with a flange or rim; a coiled spring surrounding said .shaft and having its inner end secured to said second mentioneddisk wheel and its outer end secured to said third mentioned disk Wheel; meansco-acting with said third mentioned prior art and the terms of my wheel whereby when this disk wheel is rotated by said spring, the rotary motion thereof will be transmitted to said engine shaft; governing means carried by said starter to be centrifugal y moved to clutch said second engine shaft througl'i the medium of its friction rim,- means whereby said governing means may be manually throw-ninto action, and means to prevent the rotation of said second-mentioned disk wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said engine shaft when said governing means "is not clutching said shaft.

The combination with an engine shaft, of an automatic starter therefor comprising a,first disk wheel keyed to said'shaft; a second disk wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with a flange or rim; a third disk wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with a flange or rim; a coiled spring surrounding said shaft and having its inner end secured to said secondmentioned disk wheel and its outer end secured to said third mentioned disk wheel; means co-acting with said third mentioned disk wheel whereby when this disk wheel is exerting energy to an engine shaft, tion of said shaft.

shaft; a on said tioned disk wheels mentioned disk wheel to said second-mentioned disk rotated by said spring, the rotary motion a .thereof will be transmltted to said engine rods and positioned underneath the friction rim. of said first-mentioned disk wheel; brakes pivoted to said first-mentioned disk wheel and positioned intermediate said friction rim and said governor weights; means whereby said brakes and governorweights and the rods thereof are held in normal position; a sleeve mounted to move longitudinally on said engine shaft and to rotate therewith, and designed tobe operated to force said governor weights and brakes out ward through the medium of said rods 1 to clutch said second-mentioned disk wheelto said shaft; lever mechanism for moving said sleeve, and means whereby said tioned disk wheel is held from rotating his. direction opposite to the direction of r0ta- 3. The combination with an engine shaft,

of an automatic starter therefor comprising a first disk wheel provided to said engine shaft;

with a hub keyed shaft, and further provided with a *flange or rim which overhangs the said hubs of said loosely mounted disk wheels; a sleeve mounted over the hubs of said last menand fixed to the hub of said second-mentioned disk'wheelna coiled spring positioned between saidv loosely mounted disk wheels and surrounding said shaft and having its inner end secured to said sleeve and its outer end secured to said flange or rim; a toothed disk wheel fixed to the outer end of said shaft; :plurality of weighted dogs pivoted to said third-mentioned disk wheel and designed to co-act with saidtoothed disk wheel; a plurality of brakes pivoted to said first-mentioneddisk' wheel and operating underneath said friction rim,- springs whereby said brakes are held in normal position; a plurality of governing means radially mounted in respect of said shaft and carried by said fiISlZ-II1Q11- tioned disk wheel ,andin the path of move mentof said brakes by means of which they are held in normal positi0n;a sleeve feathered 'on the hub of the said firstmentioned. disk wheel and designed to move said governing means lain times to farce said brakes into frictional contact with said friction rim; lever mechanism for moving said sleeve, and means a second disk wheel provided with a hub loosely mounted on said radially outward at cersecond-men 55 ratchet plate.

* "4:! The combination with an engine shaft,

and the engineframe, of an automatic starter f therefor comprising a first 'disk wheehprovided with a hub keyed to said engine shaft; a second disk wheel provided with a hub loosely mounted on said engine shaft, and further provided with a friction rim whi 'h overhangs said first-mentioned disk wheel; a third disk wheel prov ded and further provided with a flange or times to contact with said friction rim; a-circular tioned disk wheel and plate,

' mounted disk ing through with a hub loosely mounted on said shaft, run which overhangs the said hubs of said loosely mounted disk wheels; a sleeve mounted over the hubs of said last-mew tioned disk wheels and fixed to the hub of said second-mentioned disk wheel; a coiled spring positioned between said loosely wheels and surrounding said shaft and having its inner end secured to said sleeve and its outer end secured to said flange or rim; atoothed disk wheel fixed to theouter end of said shaft; a plurality of weighted dogs pivoted to'said third-mentioned disk wheel and designed to co-act with said toothed disk Wheel; a plurality of brakes pivoted to said first-mentioned disk wheel and operating underneath said friction rim; springs whereby said brakes are held in normal position; a-plnrality of governing means radially mounted in respect of said shaft and carried by said first-mentioned disk wheeland in the path of movement of said brakes by means of which they are held in normal position; a sleeve feathered on the hub of the said first-mentioned disk wheel and designed to move said governing niea ns radially outward at certain force; said brakes into frictional ratchetplate provided with a central openwhich said'engine shaft passes, and composed of two parts suitably bolted to saidengine frame in such a manner as to permit one ofsaid parts to be removed; dogs pivoted to the friction rim of said first-mendesigned to co-act at certain time with the teeth of said ratchet and a lever passing through a hole formed in said ratchet plate and'having its inner end positioned to co-act'with said sleeve to move it longitudinally on said shaft, and means whereby said lever is pivoted to said shaft and provided with a flange or rim; a

third disk wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with a flange or rim; a coiled spring surrounding said shaft and having its inner end secured to said second mentioned disk wheel and its outer end secured to said third mentioned disk wheel; means co-actingwith said third mentioned disk wheel whereby when this disk wheel is rotated by said spring, the rotary motion thereof will be transmitted to said engine shaft; governing means comprising a plurality of rods radially mounted'in respect of said engine shaft; bearing members car-- ried by said first-mentioned disk wheel in which said rods are mounted; governor weights carried by the outer ends of said rods and positioned rim of said first-mentioned disk wheel; brakes pivoted to said first-mentioned disk wheel and positioned intermediate said friction rim and said governor weights; means whereby said brakes and governor weights and the rods thereof are held in normal po sition; a sleeve mounted to move longitudinally on said engine shaft and to rotate therewith and designed to be operated to force said governor weights and brakes outward through the medium of said rods to clutch said second-mentioned disk wheel to said shaft; lever mechanism for moving said sleeve; mentioned disk wheel is held from rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said shaft; a pair of levers pivoted to a support, one of said levers being provided with a brake'shoe designed at times to brake against said third mentioned disk wheel to hold it from rotation, and a spring mounted between said levers and whereby energy is transmitted from the operation lever to said shoeeprovided lever and which prevents the operator applying sufficient energy to stop the engi'ge after the spring has been wound up. s

6. The combination with an engine shaft, of an automatic startertherefor comprising a first disk wheel keyed to said shaft; a second disk wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with afriction rim which overhangs said first-mentioned disk wheel; a third disk wheel loosely mounted means whereby said second-.

underneath the friction on said heft and provided with a flange or I second-mentioned disk wheel and its outer end secured to'sald third-mentioned disk wheel; means co-acting with said third mentioned disk wheel whereby when this disk wheel is rotated by said spring the rotary motion thereof will. be transmitted to said v engine shaft; governing means comprising a plurality of rods radially mounted in re-' spect of said engine shaft; bearing members carried by said first-mentioned disk wheel in which said rods are mounted; governor weights carried by the outer ends of said rods, each Weight being provided with a shank which operates through a longitudirial slot formed'in lugs carried by said firsteaeh'of the s id. on e i ned disk; wheel; bakes pivoted to said first-mentioned diskwheel; and posit tioned' intermfidiete said governor; weights leaf springs-whereby sai brakes and-governor weihtslahdthe rods therefor-ere held 1n norms, position; a sleevermountedwto I A move longitudinally on saidengine shaft and to rotate therewith,' and-designed to be operated to force said iovernor weights and brakes outward throng. the medium of said mods to clutch said second-mentioned disk wheel to said shaft; lever mechanism for moving said sleeve, and means whereby said second-mentioned disk wheel is held from rotatin in a, direction opposite to the direcs-tion 0f rotation of said shaft.

1 In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. WESLEY W. HODGSON. Witnesses:

GEORGE Honeson, ELDON E. Honoson'. 

